All Discussions Tagged 'humanist' - Atheist Nexus2018-03-20T02:25:04Zhttp://atheistnexus.org/group/AmericanHumanist/forum/topic/listForTag?tag=humanist&feed=yes&xn_auth=noHumanists Challenge Cross War Memorial in Marylandtag:atheistnexus.org,2012-08-23:2182797:Topic:20355852012-08-23T14:32:40.841ZBrian Mageehttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/ErinWilliamson
<p><strong><em>Forty-Foot Tall Christian Cross in Bladensburg, MD on Public Property is Unconstitutional</em></strong></p>
<p>(Washington, DC, August 23, 2012) — The American Humanist Association is asking the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission to remove the “Peace Cross,” a World War I memorial in the form of a large Christian cross owned and maintained by the Commission on public property at the intersection of several major roads near the Washington, D.C. line.…</p>
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<p><strong><em>Forty-Foot Tall Christian Cross in Bladensburg, MD on Public Property is Unconstitutional</em></strong></p>
<p>(Washington, DC, August 23, 2012) — The American Humanist Association is asking the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission to remove the “Peace Cross,” a World War I memorial in the form of a large Christian cross owned and maintained by the Commission on public property at the intersection of several major roads near the Washington, D.C. line.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/4I9wugBpI3*gatOaRhNKNfMNEcxb0vqNv3MleAxWyKbmyUgxCubA02NuUxGslgKfUUUzD396nOvgLaMB*EtchFAezia2yt92/PeaceCross.jpg"><img class="align-left" style="padding: 2px;" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/4I9wugBpI3*gatOaRhNKNfMNEcxb0vqNv3MleAxWyKbmyUgxCubA02NuUxGslgKfUUUzD396nOvgLaMB*EtchFAezia2yt92/PeaceCross.jpg?width=250" width="250"/></a>In a letter dated Aug. 22, 2012, the American Humanist Association’s Appignani Humanist Legal Center informed the Commission that courts have consistently found that the government cannot erect or maintain permanent crosses on public property without violating the Constitution’s Establishment Clause, which requires separation of church and state.</p>
<p>(The full letter can be found here: <a href="http://humanistlegalcenter.org/main/legal-center-seeks-removal-of-bladensburg-cross/">http://humanistlegalcenter.org/main/legal-center-seeks-removal-of-bladensburg-cross/</a>)</p>
<p>“The cross is a Christian symbol, and government should not be in the business of promoting religion. When government oversteps its bounds, as in this case, it sends a negative message to those who don’t hold Christian beliefs,” said American Humanist Association Executive Director Roy Speckhardt. “A war memorial should be inclusive and recognize everyone’s service and sacrifice. We owe it to our veterans to replace this memorial with something more appropriate and universal.”</p>
<p>“This cross amounts to an unconstitutional government endorsement of Christianity on public land,” said Bill Burgess, attorney and legal coordinator of the American Humanist Association’s Appignani Humanist Legal Center. “It is an exclusively Christian symbol that does not represent the sacrifice of non-Christian soldiers. Its prominent presence on public land leaves any observer with the notion that Christianity is exclusively favored and promoted by the government.”</p>
<p>The Peace Cross, as it has become known, was erected in 1922 with the support of a local American Legion post on land owned by the town of Bladensburg. The names of the 49 citizens of Prince George’s County who died during the First World War are listed on a plaque on the platform on which the cross sits.</p>
<p>Recent court decisions unequivocally support the notion that clearly sectarian symbols on government property are unconstitutional. In 2011, a 43-foot cross that dominates the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial in San Diego, CA was ruled unconstitutional by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2010, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that crosses erected on public land along Utah highways to commemorate slain highway patrol officers were likewise unconstitutional. The Supreme Court rejected appeals in both cases.</p>
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<p>The American Humanist Association (<a href="http://www.americanhumanist.org">www.americanhumanist.org</a>) advocates for the rights and viewpoints of humanists. Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., its work is extended through more than 150 local chapters and affiliates across America. Special thanks to the Louis J. Appignani Foundation and The Herb Block Foundation for their support of the Appignani Humanist Legal Center.</p>
<p>Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism, affirms our responsibility to lead ethical lives of value to self and humanity.</p>
<p>Image from <a href="http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=5187" target="_blank">HMdb.org</a>by F. Robby</p>
<p>To read this press release on the American Humanist Association website, click <a href="http://www.americanhumanist.org/news/details/2012-08-humanists-challenge-cross-war-memorial-in-maryland" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> Freethinkers Group Kicking Butt Raising Donations For Autism Speakstag:atheistnexus.org,2012-06-04:2182797:Topic:19718132012-06-04T11:04:50.994ZJosh Nankivelhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/nankivel
<p>Hey Atheist Nexus friends!</p>
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<p>A little help here, we walk in 5 days on June 9th.</p>
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<p>Our team of freethinkers out here in conservative, religious South Dakota are kicking butt raising money for Autism Speaks.</p>
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<p>I'd really appreciate anything you can do to help promote our team page and/or donate yourself. It's a really great cause and a great opportunity in this region of the country to change people's minds about atheists.…</p>
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<p>Hey Atheist Nexus friends!</p>
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<p>A little help here, we walk in 5 days on June 9th.</p>
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<p>Our team of freethinkers out here in conservative, religious South Dakota are kicking butt raising money for Autism Speaks.</p>
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<p>I'd really appreciate anything you can do to help promote our team page and/or donate yourself. It's a really great cause and a great opportunity in this region of the country to change people's minds about atheists.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=994654&amp;team=5036498">http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=994654&amp;team=5036498</a></p>
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<p>Anything and everything you can do is fantabulicious.</p>
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<p>You rock,</p>
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<p>Josh</p>
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<p>P.S. I'm also interested in what we could do as a community together...what about an Atheist Nexus team for a good cause and good PR at a national event of some kind?</p> For Humanists, the Secular Movement Is Only Half the Battletag:atheistnexus.org,2012-03-29:2182797:Topic:19070272012-03-29T16:01:05.907ZBrian Mageehttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/ErinWilliamson
<div class="article-abstract"><span class="font-size-3"><strong>For Humanists, the Secular Movement Is Only Half the Battle</strong></span></div>
<div class="article-abstract">True victory requires revival of progressivism.</div>
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<div class="article-meta"><span class="submitted">Published on March 29, 2012 by <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/experts/david-niose" title="View Bio">David Niose</a> in…</span></div>
<div class="article-abstract"><span class="font-size-3"><strong>For Humanists, the Secular Movement Is Only Half the Battle</strong></span></div>
<div class="article-abstract">True victory requires revival of progressivism.</div>
<div class="article-meta"><span class="submitted"><br/></span></div>
<div class="article-meta"><span class="submitted">Published on March 29, 2012 by <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/experts/david-niose" title="View Bio">David Niose</a> in <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/our-humanity-naturally">Our Humanity, Naturally</a></span> by <em>Psychology Today</em></div>
<div class="article-meta"><em><br/></em></div>
<div class="article-meta">As last weekend's <a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-766733">Reason Rally</a> on the National Mall showed, the secular movement in America is reaching a critical mass. When 20,000 enthusiasts show up on a rainy day to celebrate secularity, joining together to oppose the unquestioned exaltation of <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/religion" title="Psychology Today looks at Religion" class="pt-basics-link">religion</a> in American public life, there can be little doubt that change is coming. As president of the <a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.americanhumanist.org/">American Humanist Association</a>, one of the rally's major sponsors, this left me exhilarated, optimistic that the destructive anti-intellectualism of the religious right might finally be meeting its match. Those rallying for reason were a diverse group, cutting across all lines of race, age, and class, and they hopefully represent a movement that will escort the religious right off center stage, into the history books.</div>
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<div class="article-meta"><p>As I looked out at all the young people cheering for Richard Dawkins and Tim Minchin, however, I also realized how important it is that humanism, and not just atheism, be part of this revolution. Indeed, for humanists, the success of the secular movement is only half the battle. After all, humanism is not just an arm of secularism, but a hybrid of the secular movement and the progressive movement.</p>
<p>If this seems difficult to understand, bear in mind that <a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://nymag.com/arts/books/features/31244/">Karl Rove is reportedly an atheist</a>, but he certainly would not find the American Humanist Association to be a comfortable fit for his worldview. Atheism, which addresses only the issue of the existence of gods, has no social, political, or economic <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/philosophy" title="Psychology Today looks at Philosophy" class="pt-basics-link">philosophy</a>, nor must an atheist reject all supernaturalism. An atheist might believe in astrology, ESP, magic, and of course, even worse, the conservative <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/politics" title="Psychology Today looks at Politics" class="pt-basics-link">politics</a> of Karl Rove (though thankfully most don't).</p>
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<p>To read the rest of this article on <em>Psychology Today</em>, click <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/our-humanity-naturally/201203/humanists-the-secular-movement-is-only-half-the-battle" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
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<div class="article-meta"></div> Humanism & Atheismtag:atheistnexus.org,2009-05-02:2182797:Topic:3071302009-05-02T07:32:11.843ZSt Jimmyhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/IdahoJimmy
What do you think the distinct differences are between Atheists and Humanists? Similarities? Why do you associate yourself with the Humanist philosophies?
What do you think the distinct differences are between Atheists and Humanists? Similarities? Why do you associate yourself with the Humanist philosophies?